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The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

Newstalk ZB
The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin
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  • The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

    Mark Law: helicopter pilot who rescued White Island victims on his new book Lucky You're Tough

    16/08/2026 | 15 mins.
    Former NZSAS soldier Mark Law became a national hero on December 9 2019, following the Whakaari-White Island eruption.
    After learning of the eruption, Mark, alongside his colleagues, flew to the island, comforted the injured and flew 12 stranded survivors home.
    Mark's actions ultimately saved lives, and he was New Zealand's second highest bravery honour, the Bravery Star, for his actions - however his company, Kahu NZ, was charged and fined by WorkSafe for past tours on the island.
    He wrote about the experience in his new memoir - Lucky You're Tough.
    "The rest of the recovery, the rest of the day are pretty clear, so I've been able to recall that easily."
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  • The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

    Tom Daley: British Olympic diver on hosting knitting-based competition series

    16/08/2026 | 14 mins.
    Knitting is seeing a resurgence, largely thanks to five-time Olympic diver Tom Daley going viral for knitting in the stands between events.
    After the Tokyo Olympics wrapped up, Tom now owns a knitting brand and has even been known to knit creations for celebrities - and he's now hosting Game of Wool: Britain's Best Knitter.
    He says he taught himself to knit, and it eventually became his 'superpower.'
    "It became my mindfulness, it became my mediation, and it became my way of switching off from the world around me, and taught me to slow down and be present, be in the moment."
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  • The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

    Whitcoulls Recommends: The Governor and The Four Wives of Windsor

    16/08/2026 | 4 mins.
    The Governor by Lynda la Plante. The creator of the Jane Tennison series of books, Prime Suspect, has another story about a woman working in what was typically a male dominated industry - as governor of an English prison. Helen Hewitt is in her early 30’s and appointed to the top job where she goes up against unruly prisoners, staff who don’t want her in the job, and the politics of the prison service which undermine her from the start. Her time in the job changes her perspective on the role of prisons in society and the best way to manage punishment and rehabilitation. First published in 1995 it was made into a TV series and has recently been reissued by her publisher.
    The Four Wives of Windsor by Simon Vigar - a royal watcher and journalist for many years. This is a look at the four women who have had the greatest profile and, to a greater or lesser degree, influence, in the modern UK monarchy. Diana, Camilla, Catherine and Meghan each of whom came from the outside, but ended up performing pivotal roles in the evolution of the House of Windsor. For monarchists, these women are endlessly fascinating.
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  • The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

    Megan Singleton: BloggerAtLarge.com writer on retirement cruise gap years

    16/08/2026 | 4 mins.
    There's a new travel trend gaining popularity among older people, and it can be affordable if you do the sums.
    People are spending their first years of retirement living on cruise ships before downsizing to retirement villages - or buying a residence on one of the new residential cruise ships.
    BloggerAtLarge.com writer Megan Singleton explained further.
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  • The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin

    Full Show Podcast: 16 August 2026

    16/08/2026 | 1h 57 mins.
    On the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast for Sunday 16 August, British Olympian Tom Daley went viral at the Tokyo Olympics as he sat in the stands knitting between events. Now he's somewhat of a celebrity knitter and joins Francesca to talk about his new show Game of Wool and why the show, and knitting, are appealing to younger generations.
    The day Whakaari White Island erupted, helicopter pilot Mark Law led an unofficial rescue mission to the island that ultimately saved lives. He shares his story of that day and his life with Francesca.
    In recent weeks, big tech companies have reported multiple cases of their AI systems going rogue during routine testing. It raises the question, how much is AI capable? Kiwi scientist Matthew Egbert is involved in international research to answer just that and talks to Francesca about the importance of understanding AI.
    And scientists have just taught lettuce to grow it's own meat protein. Dr Michelle Dickinson shares the details.
    Get the Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin Full Show Podcast every Sunday on iHeartRadio, or wherever you get your podcasts.
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About The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin
News, opinion, analysis, lifestyle and entertainment – we’ve got your Sunday morning listening covered with The Sunday Session with Francesca Rudkin on Newstalk ZB.
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